World War ITimeline

1915

1915
9 October

Enlisted at the age of 39

Main Body
1915
11 October

Trained

Avondale, Auckland
1915
18 December

Transfer to England

Steamship Ruapehu

1916

1916
3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916
7 March

Stationed at Falmouth

1916
16 March

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

1916
23 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Hornchurch

1916
3 April

Awarded 1 day confinement to barracks for being late at parade

1916
14 April

Embarked for France

1916
29 April

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1916
22 May

Forfeited 1 day pay for absence without leave

1916
14 June

Joined the Company

1916
27 August

Awarded 28 days Field Punishment No.1 for drunkenness and using obscene language

1916
3 November

Forfeited 1 day pay for being out of bounds

1916
16 November

The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle

1917

1917
9 April

British Offensive

Battle of Arras

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

1917
5 May

The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line

1917
2 September

Detached to Rest Camp

1917
15 September

Rejoined the Company

1918

1918
1 January

The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras

1918
3 January

Admitted to hospital

Gassed

1918
15 March

Marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples

1918
18 March

Classified unfit for active service on account of gas poisoning

1918
21 March

German Attacks

Spring Offensive

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918
26 March

Embarked for England

1918
28 March

Marched in to NZ Depot, Torquay

1918
8 August

Transfer to New Zealand

Troopship Paparoa
1918
7 November

End of Service

Demobilization
1918
17 December
Died of diseaseOn account of his war service

How to cite this page

Anthony Byledbal, “World War I Timeline of William Edward Boyes“, New Zealand Tunnellers Website, NaN (2009), Accessed: . URL: www.nztunnellers.com/tunnellers/63/wwi-timeline